Liam Lawson details 'extremely complicated' ongoing challenge F1 drivers face

Liam Lawson has detailed the "extremely complicated" challenge F1 drivers are facing with the on-board computer algorithms controlling energy deployment.

Drivers are unable to control when to deploy their 350kw of battery power with the new generation of power units, with this instead being done via on-board computer systems which learn in real-time how best to deploy the energy for the quickest possible lap-time. 

It means that if a driver has a snap of oversteer, or is too aggressive with throttle input, or deploys too much energy trying to overtake a rival, the system will factor this information into its calculations for how to deploy the energy. 

Trying to balance this with the demands of racing in a grand prix, Lawson explained how drivers are still trying to learn how to best operate the system 11 races into the campaign. 

"We had a terrible race at Spa with a lot of bugs and issues like that, so it is not super fun, but it is part of the new regulations," Lawson told media, including RacingNews365.

"It is part of the way these cars are this year, but most weekends, we definitely have things happening at different times."

When then asked about how this feels in the cockpit and the on-board systems learn and react to driver input, Lawson explained how drivers were still learning how to best use the algorithms.

"That's the most basic sort of scenario, and there are many others that happen as well," Lawson added.

"There are things that you can do to trigger a bug that happens, and it starts making something else worse, so yeah, it is obviously extremely complicated.

"At this point, we're still learning even now how it all works, but it is as you get faster through a weekend, you start using more energy. 

"You almost have to try and pre-plan how quick you're going to be in qualifying to know how much throttle you're going to use, how much energy you're going to use and where you are going to need to harvest."

Never miss a thing from the Formula 1 season! Add the 2026 F1 schedule to your calendar at the touch of a button. Subscribe below and put the dates and times of every race directly on your PC or smartphone, so you don't miss a second from the new season.

Download the F1 calendar Download the F1 calendar